Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice

Learn how to make Perfect Instant Pot brown rice that’s fluffy every time! This easy foolproof recipe is perfect for meal prep, healthy bowls, and weeknight dinners.

Cooking rice doesn’t have to mean standing over the stove top or ending up with rice that’s too mushy, too firm, or stuck to the bottom of the pot. With the Instant Pot, you can make perfectly fluffy brown rice every single time with almost no effort. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week, building healthy grain bowls, serving dinner alongside your favorite protein, or stocking your fridge with easy meal staples, this foolproof Instant Pot brown rice recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again. Simply add the rice and water, press a button, and let your pressure cooker do all the work.

Why You’ll Love This

• Perfectly fluffy every time – no more guessing the water ratio or worrying about burnt rice on the stove!
• Completely hands-off – add everything to the Instant Pot and let it cook while you prepare the rest of your meal. No need for a rice cooker.
• Great for meal prep – make a batch on Sunday and enjoy it all week in bowls, salads, stir-fries, burritos, and more.
• No babysitting required – the Instant Pot eliminates boiling over, stirring, and watching the pot. Perfect brown rice every time!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• brown rice – long-grain brown rice works best for this recipe because it cooks up fluffy with separate grains. Be sure to rinse the rice under cold water before cooking to remove excess starch, which helps prevent it from becoming gummy. You can also use medium-grain brown rice, though the texture may be slightly softer.
• water or broth – water works perfectly, but swapping it for chicken broth or vegetable broth adds even more flavor. This is an easy way to elevate your rice if you’re serving it as a side dish.

How to Make Brown Rice in the Instant Pot

1. Rinse the rice. Place 2 cups of rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water for 30 to 60 seconds until the water runs mostly clear. This removes excess starch and helps create fluffy rice.
2. Add everything to the Instant Pot. Transfer the rinsed rice to the Instant Pot and pour in 2 1/2 cups of water or broth. If you’d like, stir in a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of butter or olive oil for additional flavor.
3. Pressure cook. Secure the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure (Manual Pressure) for 22 minutes.
4. Natural release. Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, carefully turn the valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
5. Fluff and serve. Open the Instant Pot lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Brown Rice

• Rinse the rice – this simple step helps remove excess starch and creates light, fluffy grains.
• Let the pressure release naturally – a natural release, versus the quick release option, allows the rice to finish cooking gently and absorb any remaining moisture.
• Fluff with a fork – instead of stirring with a spoon, fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains without smashing them.
• Season after cooking – if using the rice in multiple meals throughout the week, cook it plain and season individual servings as needed.
• Use broth for more flavor – chicken or vegetable broth instantly upgrades plain rice and pairs beautifully with almost any meal.
• Double the recipe – the Instant Pot is perfect for making larger batches. Simply double the ingredients while keeping the cooking time the same.

Ways to Serve

• Build grain bowls – top cooked rice with your favorite protein, fresh veggies, healthy fats and a flavorful sauce for a balanced meal. Try these Mongolian beef bowls or these Mediterranean chicken meatball bowls.
• Pair with your favorite protein – brown rice makes an easy side dish that compliments almost any main course. Serve with air fryer chicken breasts, air fryer salmon, these easy turkey meatballs or this cilantro lime grilled chicken.
• Serve with stir-fries – brown rice is perfect for soaking up flavorful sauces from homemade stir-fries! Try with this healthy beef and broccoli, this cashew chicken stir fry, teriyaki chicken stir fry or this honey garlic shrimp.
• Add to soups and casseroles – leftover brown rice is a wonderful addition to soups and baked dishes such as this chicken and wild rice soup, this stuffed pepper soup or this chicken, broccoli and rice casserole.
• Use it in salads – cooled brown rice adds texture and makes salads more filling. Try with this wild rice chicken salad or this brussels sprout and brown rice salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Store – Store cooled leftover rice in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• To Freeze – Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Flatten freezer bags for quicker thawing and easy storage.
• To Reheat – Microwave with a splash of water for 1–2 minutes, or reheat on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. The added moisture helps keep the rice soft and fluffy.

More Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Mexican Brown Rice
• Perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
• Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
• The BEST Healthy Turkey Chili

Hope you all enjoy this Instant Pot Rice recipe! If you love this as much as we do, please leave me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing all your delicious recreations!